Srinagar: It was sheer grit and determination of 36-year-old Havildar Hangpan Dada that saw him fight valiantly at the 13,000-feet high Shamsabari range to eliminate four heavily-armed terrorists who infiltrated into North Kashmir from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir before he was martyred.
Enrolled in the Assam Regiment of the Army in 1997, Dada was posted with the 35 Rashtriya Rifles, a force carved out for counter-insurgency operations, at present. He is a native of village Boduria in Arunachal Pradesh.
A senior Army official said on Friday that Dada was injured badly in the encounter as the terrorists were perched higher up on the mountains while the Army unit was lower down.
But the Havildar displayed raw courage, unflinching grit, and presence of mind. With utter disregard to his personal safety and despite bleeding profusely, he discharged his duties and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation, the official said.
He charged at the spot where terrorists were holed up to ensure that two terrorists were killed on the spot and the third one on Friday as they slid down the hill towards the Line of Control. One terrorist was shot dead by him on Thursday itself.
The official said that Dada's quick thinking saved the lives of his team members who were under heavy fire from the terrorists.
His body was being taken to his native village where the last rites will be conducted with military honours.
The Havildar is survived by his wife Chasen Lowang, daughter Roukhin who will turn 10 on June 30 and six-year-old son Senwang.
With PTI Inputs.
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